Shaped reflector for coaxial illumination of non-normal surfaces

ABSTRACT

A microscope may receive a fiber optic connector via a connector adapter of the microscope, wherein the connector adapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surrounding the opening. The microscope may align a ferrule of the fiber optic connector with the opening of the connector adapter of the microscope, wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule chamfer or a ferrule radius. The microscope may transmit direct light onto the shaped reflective surface and may receive reflected light from the ferrule chamfer or the ferrule radius and with a camera of the microscope.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/249,786, filed Mar. 12, 2021, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A microscope, such as a video microscope, may be used to view a fiberoptic connector and to determine imperfections and contamination on theendface of the fiber optic connector.

SUMMARY

In some implementations, a method may include receiving a fiber opticconnector via a connector adapter of a microscope, wherein the connectoradapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surroundingthe opening. The method may include aligning a ferrule of the fiberoptic connector with the opening of the connector adapter of themicroscope, wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule chamfer or a ferruleradius. The method may include transmitting direct light onto the shapedreflective surface and receiving reflected light from the ferrulechamfer or the ferrule radius and with a camera of the microscope.

In some implementations, a microscope may include a connector adapterthat includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surrounding theopening. The connector adapter may be configured to align a ferrule of afiber optic connector with the opening of the connector adapter, and theferrule may include a ferrule chamfer. The microscope may include alight source to transmit direct light to the shaped reflective surfaceand onto the ferrule chamfer, and a camera to receive reflected lightfrom the ferrule chamfer.

In some implementations, a connector adapter may include a body portionconfigured to connect with an optical microscope. The body portion mayinclude an opening that is configured to receive and retain a ferrule ofa fiber optic connector and the ferrule may include a ferrule chamfer.The connector adapter may include a shaped reflective surfacesurrounding the opening and being configured to receive direct lightfrom a light source of the optical microscope, and reflect the directlight, as reflected light, to a camera of the optical microscope and viathe ferrule chamfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1G are diagrams of an example implementation described herein.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices ofFIGS. 1A-1G.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example process for utilizing a shapedreflector for coaxial illumination of non-normal surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A fiber optic connector may include a connector body that retains acylindrical ceramic ferrule. The ferrule includes a small bore through acentral axis that supports a piece of optical fiber. A flexible jacketmay house the optical fiber that exits the fiber optic connector. Theoptical fiber is fixed in place in the bore, and the optical fiber andan endface of the ferrule are polished to a smooth finish. Typically, achamfer or a bevel is added at a circular edge formed between the endface and a cylindrical face of the ferrule. The chamfer protects theedge from damage and facilitates insertion into mating adapters.

A microscope may use coaxial illumination to illuminate surfaces of theferrule. Light emitted from a light source of the microscope reflectsfrom a beam splitter (e.g., half of the light reflects, and half of thelight passes through). The light reflected from the beam splitter passesthrough a lens of the microscope and reflects from the ferrule endfaceand the optical fiber. The reflected light passes back through the lensand forms an image of the ferrule endface at a camera of the microscope.Such a technique is referred to as bright field illumination.

However, some light is not reflected directly back through the lens(e.g., light that reflects from the ferrule chamfer) and does not forman image at the camera. Some light scatters after striking a surface.For example, if the ferrule chamfer is not polished smooth, there issignificant light scattering caused by the ferrule chamfer. Scatteredlight with a great enough intensity reenters the lens and forms an imageat the camera. Such an image has different characteristics and isgenerally referred to as oblique illumination, dark field illumination,or stray light illumination. The image formed by oblique illumination isqualitatively different from bright field illumination. Most inspectionsof fiber optic endfaces rely on bright field illumination and may beinaccurate when using only oblique illumination. Thus, currentinspection techniques waste computing resources (e.g., processingresources, memory resources, communication resources, and/or the like),networking resources, human resources, and/or the like associated withperforming incorrect inspections of fiber optic connectors, incorrectlydetermining that faulty fiber optic connectors are functional,implementing faulty fiber optic connectors in networks, losing networkdata because of the faulty fiber optic connectors, and/or the like.

Some implementations described herein relate to a microscope thatutilizes a shaped reflector for coaxial illumination of non-normalsurfaces. For example, the microscope may receive a fiber opticconnector via a connector adapter of the microscope, wherein theconnector adapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surfacesurrounding the opening. The microscope may align a ferrule of the fiberoptic connector with the opening of the connector adapter of themicroscope, wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule chamfer. Themicroscope may transmit direct light onto the shaped reflective surfaceand may receive reflected light from the ferrule chamfer and with acamera of the microscope.

In this way, the microscope utilizes a shaped reflector for coaxialillumination of non-normal surfaces. The microscope may include areflector with a geometry that allows illumination from the light sourceto image the ferrule chamfer with bright field illumination. The lightfrom the light source is reflected by the reflector in such a way thatsubsequent light reflected from the ferrule chamfer passes back throughthe lens. The ferrule chamfer and the reflector may be conical andaxially symmetric. This, in turn, conserves computing resources,networking resources, human resources, and/or the like that wouldotherwise have been wasted in performing incorrect inspections of fiberoptic connectors, incorrectly determining that faulty fiber opticconnectors are functional, implementing faulty fiber optic connectors innetworks, losing network data because of the faulty fiber opticconnectors, and/or the like.

FIGS. 1A-1G are diagrams of an example 100 associated with utilizing ashaped reflector for coaxial illumination of non-normal surfaces. Asshown in FIGS. 1A-1G, example 100 includes a microscope 105 and a fiberoptic connector 110. Microscope 105 may be an optical microscope orvideo microscope with or without a display, used to view fiber opticconnector 110 and to determine imperfections in fiber optic connector110, and/or the like. Fiber optic connector 110 may include any fiberoptic connector that includes an optical fiber, such as a fiber-opticconnector (FC), an FC/physical content (PC) connector, an FC/angledphysical content (APC) connector, a snap-in connector (SC), an STconnector, a small-form factor (LC) connector, and/or the like. Furtherdetails of microscope 105 and fiber optic connector 110 are providedelsewhere herein.

As shown in FIG. 1A, and by reference number 115, fiber optic connector110 may be connected to microscope 105. For example, fiber opticconnector 110 may be inserted into microscope 105 so that fiber opticconnector 110 may be retained in and tested by microscope 105. Furtherdetails of the interconnection of fiber optic connector 110 andmicroscope 105 are provided elsewhere herein.

As shown in FIG. 1B, fiber optic connector 110 may include a ferrule 120that extends through a body portion of fiber optic connector 110 andoutward away from an opening of the body portion. Ferrule 120 may becylindrical, square, rectangular, and/or the like in shape and may bemade from a variety of materials, such as plastic, stainless steel,ceramic, and/or the like. Ferrule 120 may be sized and shaped based onan application of fiber optic connector 110 (e.g., based on a size andshape associated with a mating fiber optic adapter). Ferrule 120 mayinclude a bore through a central axis that includes an optical fiber125. Optical fiber 125 may be fixed in place in the bore. Ferrule 120may include a ferrule endface 130. Optical fiber 125 and ferrule endface130 may be polished to a smooth finish. Ferrule 120 may include aferrule chamfer 135 or a bevel provided at an edge formed betweenferrule endface 130 and an outer surface of the body portion of ferrule120. Ferrule chamfer 135 may protect the edge from damage and mayfacilitate insertion into mating fiber optic adapters. In someimplementations, ferrule chamfer 135 may be replaced with a ferruleradius provided at the edge formed between ferrule endface 130 and theouter surface of the body portion of ferrule 120.

A side view of fiber optic connector 110 is shown in the top part ofFIG. 1C and a sectional view of fiber optic connector 110, taken alongline B-B of the side view, is shown in the bottom part of FIG. 1Cprovides. As shown in the side view, ferrule 120 may include a diameterthat is based on an application of fiber optic connector 110. Forexample, diameter may range from approximately one millimeter (1 mm) toapproximately three millimeters (3 mm). As shown in the sectional view,ferrule 120 may extend from within the body portion of fiber opticconnector 110, through the opening of fiber optic connector 110, andaway from the body portion and the opening.

As shown in FIG. 1D, microscope 105 may include a camera 140, a lightsource 145, a beam splitter 150, a lens 155, and a connector adapter160. Camera 140 may include an image sensor that captures imagesprovided by light reflected from ferrule endface 130. For example,camera 140 may include a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)megapixel image sensor. Light source 145 may include a light-emittingdiode (LED) light source, an incandescent light source, a fluorescentlight source, a halogen light source, and/or the like that generatesdirect light. Beam splitter 150 may include an optical device thatsplits a beam of light in two. For example, beam splitter 150 mayinclude two triangular glass prisms that are joined together to form acube, such that half of light incident on one face of the cube isreflected and another half of the light is transmitted due to frustratedtotal internal reflection.

In operation, microscope 105 may utilize coaxial illumination toilluminate surfaces of ferrule 120. Half of light emitted from lightsource 145 of microscope 105 reflects from beam splitter 150 toward lens155. The light reflected from beam splitter 150 passes through lens 155of microscope 105 and reflects from ferrule endface 130 and opticalfiber 125 as reflected light. The reflected light passes back throughlens 155 and lens 155 forms an image of optical fiber 125 and ferruleendface 130 at camera 140.

Connector adapter 160 may be sized and shaped to fit within and connectto an end portion of microscope 105 (e.g., an end portion that isopposite of an end portion associated with camera 140). Connectoradapter 160 may be formed from a variety of materials (e.g., metal,plastic, glass, and/or the like), and may include an opening that issized and shaped to receive and retain ferrule 120 of fiber opticconnector 110. In some implementations, the opening of connector adapter160 is axially aligned with an axis of ferrule 120 (e.g., the boreprovided through ferrule 120 and including optical fiber 125).

As further shown in FIG. 1D, connector adapter 160 may include a shapedreflective surface 165 provided around the opening of connector adapter160. A size and a shape of shaped reflective surface 165 may depend on asize and a shape of ferrule 120 and on a size and a shape of ferrulechamfer 135. Shaped reflective surface 165 may be formed from a varietyof materials, such as a polished metal, a coated glass, a metallizedplastic, and/or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 1D, and by reference number 170, ferrule 120 offiber optic connector 110 may be aligned with and retained in theopening of connector adapter 160 of microscope 105. As shown byreference number 175, the direct light from light source 145 may betransmitted onto shaped reflective surface 165 (e.g., via beam splitter150 and lens 155) and may be received as reflected light with camera140. For example, and as shown in the magnified view of FIG. 1D, some ofthe direct light may be transmitted to shaped reflective surface 165 andreflected by shaped reflective surface 165 to ferrule chamfer 135.Ferrule chamfer 135 may reflect the direct light as reflected light. Thereflected light from ferrule chamfer 135 may travel through lens 155 andbeam splitter 150 and may be received by camera 140. Some of the directlight may be transmitted to ferrule endface 130 and reflected by ferruleendface 130 as reflected light. The reflected light from ferrule endface130 may travel through lens 155 and beam splitter 150 and may bereceived by camera 140.

As shown in FIG. 1E, in some implementations, microscope 105 includeslight source 145, an offset light source 180, and a shaped reflectivesurface 185. Offset light source 180 may include an LED light source, anincandescent light source, a fluorescent light source, a halogen lightsource, and/or the like that generates direct light. Offset light source180 may generate the direct light at an angle rather than coaxially withcamera 140, beam splitter 150, and/or lens 155. Shaped reflectivesurface 185 may include the features of shaped reflective surface 165described above in connection with FIG. 1D. However, since the directlight from offset light source 180 is provided at an angle, shapedreflective surface 185 may include a different geometry than shapedreflective surface 165. For example, the geometry of shaped reflectivesurface 185 may be adapted to the angle of the direct light receivedfrom offset light source 180 in such a way that the reflected lightforms a bright field image at camera 140.

As shown in the magnified view of FIG. 1E, the direct light from offsetlight source 180 may be transmitted to shaped reflective surface 185 andreflected by shaped reflective surface 185 to ferrule chamfer 135.Ferrule chamfer 135 may reflect the direct light as reflected light. Thereflected light from ferrule chamfer 135 may travel through lens 155 andbeam splitter 150 and may be received by camera 140. The direct lightfrom light source 145 may be transmitted to ferrule endface 130 andreflected by ferrule endface 130 as reflected light. The reflected lightfrom ferrule endface 130 may travel through lens 155 and beam splitter150 and may be received by camera 140.

As shown in FIG. 1F, in some implementations, microscope 105 includes aprism 190 provided around the opening of connector adapter 160 andincluding to a shaped surface that is shaped in a manner similar toshaped reflective surface 165. The shaped surface of prism 190 may be aninterior reflective surface that reflects direct light in a mannersimilar to shaped reflective surface 165. Prism 190 may be sized andshaped to connect to the opening of connector adapter 160 and may beformed from a variety of materials, such as glass, plastic, fluorite,and/or the like. A portion of prism 190 may be transparent, to receivethe direct light and provide the direct light to the interior reflectivesurface of prism 190. The interior reflective surface of prism 190 maybe reflective, to reflect the direct light in a manner similar to shapedreflective surface 165. The interior reflection with prism 190 may beprovided by a reflective surface coating provided on the interiorreflective surface or as a result of total internal reflection.

As shown in the magnified view of FIG. 1F, some of the direct light fromlight source 145 may be transmitted through prism 190 to the interiorreflective surface of prism 190 and may be reflected by the interiorreflective surface to ferrule chamfer 135. Ferrule chamfer 135 mayreflect the direct light as reflected light. The reflected light fromferrule chamfer 135 may travel through lens 155 and beam splitter 150and may be received by camera 140. Some of the direct light from lightsource 145 may be transmitted to ferrule endface 130 and reflected byferrule endface 130 as reflected light. The reflected light from ferruleendface 130 may travel through lens 155 and beam splitter 150 and may bereceived by camera 140.

As further shown in FIG. 1F, and by reference number 195, microscope 105may determine a result based on the reflected light received by camera140 and provide the result for display. For example, microscope 105 maydetermine an inspection result (e.g., a fault, no issues, and/or thelike) for fiber optic connector 110 based on the reflected lightreceived by camera 140. Microscope 105 may provide the result fordisplay on a display device associated with microscope 105.

As shown in FIG. 1G, ferrule chamfer 135 of ferrule 120 may be providedat an angle α relative to a line provided perpendicular to a plane offerrule endface 130. Shaped reflective surface 165 may be provided at anangle β relative to a line provided parallel to the plane of ferruleendface 130. In some implementations, a size of angle β is determinedbased on a size of angle α to ensure that direct light reflected fromshaped reflective surface 165 is reflected to a surface of ferrulechamfer 135 and back to camera 140. For example, angle β may range fromapproximately twenty-five degrees (25°) to approximately thirty-fivedegrees (35°).

In this way, microscope 105 utilizes a shaped reflector for coaxialillumination of non-normal surfaces. Microscope 105 may include a shapedreflector (e.g., shaped reflective surface 165 or 185) with a geometrythat allows illumination from light source 145 to image ferrule chamfer135 with bright field illumination. The light from light source 145 isreflected by the reflector in such a way that subsequent lightreflection from ferrule chamfer 135 passes back through lens 155.Ferrule chamfer 135 and the reflector may be conical and axiallysymmetric. This, in turn, conserves computing resources, networkingresources, human resources, and/or the like that would otherwise havebeen wasted in performing incorrect inspections of fiber opticconnectors, incorrectly determining that faulty fiber optic connectorsare functional, implementing faulty fiber optic connectors in networks,losing network data because of the faulty fiber optic connectors, and/orthe like.

As indicated above, FIGS. 1A-1G are provided as an example. Otherexamples may differ from what is described with regard to FIGS. 1A-1G.The number and arrangement of devices shown in FIGS. 1A-1G are providedas an example. In practice, there may be additional devices, fewerdevices, different devices, or differently arranged devices than thoseshown in FIGS. 1A-1G. Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIGS.1A-1G may be implemented within a single device, or a single deviceshown in FIGS. 1A-1G may be implemented as multiple, distributeddevices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one ormore devices) shown in FIGS. 1A-1G may perform one or more functionsdescribed as being performed by another set of devices shown in FIGS.1A-1G.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example components of a device 200, which maycorrespond to microscope 105. In some implementations, microscope 105may include one or more devices 200 and/or one or more components ofdevice 200. As shown in FIG. 2 , device 200 may include a bus 210, aprocessor 220, a memory 230, a storage component 240, an input component250, an output component 260, and a communication component 270.

Bus 210 includes a component that enables wired and/or wirelesscommunication among the components of device 200. Processor 220 includesa central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor,a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, afield-programmable gate array, an application-specific integratedcircuit, and/or another type of processing component. Processor 220 isimplemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware andsoftware. In some implementations, processor 220 includes one or moreprocessors capable of being programmed to perform a function. Memory 230includes a random-access memory, a read only memory, and/or another typeof memory (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an opticalmemory).

Storage component 240 stores information and/or software related to theoperation of device 200. For example, storage component 240 may includea hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, asolid-state disk drive, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, and/oranother type of non-transitory computer-readable medium. Input component250 enables device 200 to receive input, such as user input and/orsensed inputs. For example, input component 250 may include a touchscreen, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a microphone, a switch,a sensor, a global positioning system component, an accelerometer, agyroscope, and/or an actuator. Output component 260 enables device 200to provide output, such as via a display, a speaker, and/or one or morelight-emitting diodes. Communication component 270 enables device 200 tocommunicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection and/or awireless connection. For example, communication component 270 mayinclude a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a networkinterface card, and/or an antenna.

Device 200 may perform one or more processes described herein. Forexample, a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory 230and/or storage component 240) may store a set of instructions (e.g., oneor more instructions, code, software code, and/or program code) forexecution by processor 220. Processor 220 may execute the set ofinstructions to perform one or more processes described herein. In someimplementations, execution of the set of instructions, by one or moreprocessors 220, causes the one or more processors 220 and/or the device200 to perform one or more processes described herein. In someimplementations, hardwired circuitry may be used instead of or incombination with the instructions to perform one or more processesdescribed herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 2 are provided asan example. Device 200 may include additional components, fewercomponents, different components, or differently arranged componentsthan those shown in FIG. 2 . Additionally, or alternatively, a set ofcomponents (e.g., one or more components) of device 200 may perform oneor more functions described as being performed by another set ofcomponents of device 200.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example process 300 for utilizing a shapedreflector for coaxial illumination of non-normal surfaces. In someimplementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 3 may be performedby a microscope (e.g., microscope 105). In some implementations, one ormore process blocks of FIG. 3 may be performed by another device or agroup of devices separate from or including the microscope.Additionally, or alternatively, one or more process blocks of FIG. 3 maybe performed by one or more components of device 200, such as processor220, memory 230, storage component 240, input component 250, outputcomponent 260, and/or communication component 270.

As shown in FIG. 3 , process 300 may include receiving a fiber opticconnector via a connector adapter of the microscope, wherein theconnector adapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surfacesurrounding the opening (block 310). For example, the microscope mayreceive a fiber optic connector via a connector adapter of themicroscope, as described above. In some implementations, the connectoradapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surroundingthe opening.

As further shown in FIG. 3 , process 300 may include aligning a ferruleof the fiber optic connector with the opening of the connector adapterof the microscope, wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule chamfer (block320). For example, the microscope may align a ferrule of the fiber opticconnector with the opening of the connector adapter of the microscope,as described above. In some implementations, the ferrule includes aferrule chamfer.

As further shown in FIG. 3 , process 300 may include transmitting directlight onto the shaped reflective surface (block 330). For example, themicroscope may transmit direct light onto the shaped reflective surface,as described above.

As further shown in FIG. 3 , process 300 may include receiving reflectedlight from the ferrule chamfer and with a camera of the microscope(block 340). For example, the microscope may receive reflected lightfrom the ferrule chamfer and with a camera of the microscope, asdescribed above.

Process 300 may include additional implementations, such as any singleimplementation or any combination of implementations described belowand/or in connection with one or more other processes describedelsewhere herein.

In a first implementation, the direct light reflects from the shapedreflective surface and onto the ferrule chamfer to form the reflectedlight.

In a second implementation, alone or in combination with the firstimplementation, process 300 includes determining a result based on thereflected light received by the camera and providing the result fordisplay.

In a third implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first and second implementations, transmitting the direct light ontothe shaped reflective surface includes one of transmitting the directlight, from a light source of the microscope and via a beam splitter ofthe microscope, onto the shaped reflective surface; transmitting thedirect light, from the light source and via the beam splitter, onto aprism of the connector adapter; or transmitting the direct light, froman offset light source of the microscope, onto the shaped reflectivesurface.

In a fourth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through third implementations, a size and a shape of theshaped reflective surface depends on a size and a shape of the ferruleand on a size and a shape of the ferrule chamfer.

In a fifth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through fourth implementations, the microscope includes a beamsplitter to receive the direct light from the light source, transmit thedirect light onto the shaped reflective surface, receive the reflectedlight from the ferrule chamfer, and transmit the reflected light to thecamera.

In a sixth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through fifth implementations, the connector adapter includesa prism, and the light source is to transmit the direct light onto areflective surface of the prism.

In a seventh implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through sixth implementations, the light source is an offsetlight source to transmit the direct light at an angle onto the shapedreflective surface.

In an eighth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through seventh implementations, the reflected light from theferrule chamfer is imaged at the camera with bright field illumination.

In a ninth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through eighth implementations, the microscope includes alens, provided between the light source and the connector adapter, toreceive the direct light from the light source, transmit the directlight onto the shaped reflective surface, receive the reflected lightfrom the ferrule chamfer, and form an image of the ferrule chamfer onthe camera based on the reflected light.

In a tenth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through ninth implementations, the shaped reflective surfaceincludes one or more of a polished metal, a coated glass, or ametallized plastic.

In an eleventh implementation, alone or in combination with one or moreof the first through tenth implementations, the ferrule includes anaxial bore through which an optical fiber is provided.

In a twelfth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more ofthe first through eleventh implementations, the connector adapterincludes a body portion configured to connect with the microscope, andthe body portion includes that opening that is configured to receive andretain the ferrule of the fiber optic connector.

Although FIG. 3 shows example blocks of process 300, in someimplementations, process 300 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 3 . Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 300 may be performed in parallel.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications may be made in light of the abovedisclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations.

As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Itwill be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may beimplemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be used to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context,refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equalto the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to thethreshold, equal to the threshold, and/or the like, depending on thecontext.

Although particular combinations of features are recited in the claimsand/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, asused herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more itemsreferenced in connection with the article “the” and may be usedinterchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, theterm “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., relateditems, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items,and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.”Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, thephrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or”is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be usedinterchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g.,if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: transmitting, by amicroscope, light onto a shaped reflective surface of a connectoradapter, wherein the light includes a first light beam and a secondlight beam, wherein the first light beam is to reflect off the shapedreflective surface onto a ferrule chamfer or a ferrule radius to formreflected light from the ferrule chamfer or the ferrule radius, whereinthe ferrule chamfer or the ferrule radius is provided at an edge formedbetween a ferrule endface and an outer surface of a body portion of aferrule, and wherein the second light beam, different from the firstlight beam, is to reflect off the ferrule endface; and obtaining, by themicroscope, a result based on the reflected light from the ferrulechamfer or the ferrule radius and with a camera of the microscope. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the first light beam and the second lightbeam are formed based on transmitting the light via a beam splitter. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the first light beam is emitted via anoffset light source.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first lightbeam and the second light beam are emitted at different angles.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein determining the result comprises: determiningan inspection result associated with a fault or issue.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: providing the result for display on adisplay device associated with the microscope.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein an angle associated with the shaped reflective surface isdetermined based on an angle associated with the ferrule chamfer.
 8. Amicroscope, comprising: a connector adapter that includes an opening anda shaped reflective surface surrounding the opening, wherein theconnector adapter is configured to align a ferrule of a fiber opticconnector with the opening of the connector adapter, wherein the ferruleincludes a ferrule chamfer that is provided at an edge formed between aferrule endface and an outer surface of a body portion of the ferrule; alight source to transmit light to the shaped reflective surface and ontothe ferrule chamfer, wherein the light includes a first light beam and asecond light beam, wherein the first light beam is to reflect off theshaped reflective surface onto the ferrule chamfer or ferrule radius toform reflected light from the ferrule chamfer or the ferrule radius, andwherein the second light beam, different from the first light beam, isto reflect off the ferrule endface; and an interface to receive thereflected light from the ferrule chamfer.
 9. The microscope of claim 8,wherein the shaped reflective surface includes a geometry that allowsillumination from the light to image the ferrule chamfer with brightfield illumination.
 10. The microscope of claim 8, wherein the shapedreflective surface is conical and axially symmetric.
 11. The microscopeof claim 8, wherein the connector adapter includes a prism, and whereinthe light source is to transmit the light onto the prism, wherein theprism splits the light into the first light beam and the second lightbeam.
 12. The microscope of claim 8, wherein the interface comprises acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor.
 13. The microscopeof claim 8, further comprising: one or more processors configured to:determine a result based on the reflected light received by theinterface.
 14. The microscope of claim 8, wherein the ferrule chamferfacilitates insertion associated with mating a fiber optic adapter. 15.A connector adapter, comprising: a shaped reflective surface beingconfigured to: obtain light from a light source of a microscope, whereinthe light includes a first light beam and a second light beam, whereinthe light is to reflect off the shaped reflective surface onto a ferrulechamfer to form reflected light from the ferrule chamfer, wherein theferrule chamfer is provided at an edge formed between a ferrule endfaceand an outer surface of a body portion of a ferrule, and wherein thesecond light beam, different from the first light beam, is to reflectoff the ferrule endface, and reflect the light, as reflected light, to acamera and via the ferrule chamfer.
 16. The connector adapter of claim15, wherein the shaped reflective surface includes one or more of: apolished metal, a coated glass, or a metallized plastic.
 17. Theconnector adapter of claim 15, wherein a size and a shape of the shapedreflective surface depends on a size and a shape of the ferrule chamfer.18. The connector adapter of claim 15, wherein the first light beam andthe second light beam are formed based on transmitting the light via abeam splitter.
 19. The connector adapter of claim 15, wherein the firstlight beam is emitted via an offset light source.
 20. The connectoradapter of claim 15, wherein the first light beam and the second lightbeam are emitted at different angles.